ALL THAT REMAINS - ANTIFRAGILE
American metalcore vets All That Remains have returned with their first studio full length since 2018's Victim Of A New Disease. The album is packaged with the added significance of being the first to be released independently, as well as first without founding guitarist Oli Herbert. With bassist Matt Deis from the This Darkened Heart-era back in the fold, along with guitarists Jason Richardson and Mike Martin, drummer Anthony Barone and vocalist Phil Labonte, the latest configuration of the band is firing on all cylinders having come back from the brink of tragedy and Covid. The band's tenth LP showcases the intersection of technicality and showmanship that defines the band. The tracks are arena-ready, laser-focused and with the production of Josh Wilbur, captured on an album that is as massive as the band's resilient spirit.
ENTERPRISE EARTH - DESCENT INTO MADNESS
Extreme metal practitioners Enterprise Earth shortened the runway for their January release of their next EP, Descent Into Madness. Rather than going with the conventional the rollout, the band aggressively unveiled the introductory single just a couple of weeks before the EP release date. The sneak attack was further emphasized by with a preview that was pure hellfire, a sonic assault that is "I. The Descent". Driven by a exorcising vocal cadence of Travis Worland, a surgically precise performance from drummer Aron Hetsko and the massive wall of sound executed by guitarist Gabe Mangold, the band's intent in creating a spiraling journey to the pits of hell is no exaggeration. This is six entries of well-constructed chaos.
L.S. DUNES - VIOLET (Fantasy Records)
The combination of Anthony Greene, Tucker Rule, Tim Payne, Travis Stever and Frank Iero are likely reluctant to embrace the supergroup label, but given their respective resumes, it's hard to refer to this as collectively as anything less than. The band's introduction as L.S. Dunes in 2022 with the LP Past Lives did little to dissuade the "super", with the kind of album that quickly asserted this was more than a one and done passion project. For the band's sophomore release, Violet, stellar songwriting and showmanship on are on full display. Taking a more optimistic tone where Past Lives was more cathartic, Violet is no less raucous and energized, only this time, the conviction in the music comes from a much brighter place. L.S. Dunes takes the articulate approach to aggression and the result is ten tracks of musical marvel.
GREAT AMERICAN GHOST - THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS (SharpTone Records)
On the band's fourth full length record, Great American Ghost have seemingly turned a corner. Working with venerated heavy produced Will Putney, the band's hardcore pedigree, combined with their metallic songwriting sensibilities have always been reason to consider them promising prospects, but on The Tragedy of Commons, their brand has shifted to something much more impactful, potent. Sourcing elements of hardcore, metalcore and beyond, the band's dynamic composition keeps you on your toes, while still resulting in entries that are cohesive and well constructed. Beginning a new era on SharpTone, Great American Ghost understood the importance of stepping up and executed just that on what is arguably the best showing of their career.
GRIEF RITUAL - COLLAPSE (Church Road Records)
Blackened metallic hardcore from the UK, Grief Ritual tout the confrontational disposition of punk with the performative chops of metal to weaponize their message of dissent. Combining the band's confrontational stance with weighty breakdowns, hostile riffage and violent vocal spew, Collapse is a convincing show of force justified in its volatility. Exploring heady topics ranging from authoritarianism to human extinction, Collapse is the kind of heavy that translates in both style and substance.
